1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Can PMR progress to inflammatory arthritis?

Posted by DadCue @dadcue, Sep 2 6:51am

The doctor in this video thinks PMR can progress to inflammatory arthritis. I think chronic systemic inflammation has no boundaries so it can progress to anywhere it wants to.


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How does a diagnosis limit where the inflammation can be?

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pb50 | @pb50 | Sep 3 11:17am

Yea I guess I don't think of any inflammatory condition that might develop along the way as progression - just another flavor of autoimmune issues. Frankly I find PMR and RA and Gout as a triangle of symptoms that wax and wane. I had a witch of a Gout flare last week, but didn’t see it as a progression from my RA… Just what my immune system served up.

REPLY
pb50 | @pb50 | Sep 3 11:19am

Yea I guess I don't think of any inflammatory condition that might develop along the way as progression - just another flavor of autoimmune issues. Frankly I find PMR and RA and Gout as a triangle of symptoms that wax and wane. I had a witch of a Gout flare last week, but didn’t see it as a progression. Just what my immune system served up.

REPLY
1 reply
DadCue | @dadcue | Sep 3 1:59pm
In reply to @pb50 "Yea I guess I don't think of any inflammatory condition that might develop along the way..." + (show)
@pb50

Yea I guess I don't think of any inflammatory condition that might develop along the way as progression - just another flavor of autoimmune issues. Frankly I find PMR and RA and Gout as a triangle of symptoms that wax and wane. I had a witch of a Gout flare last week, but didn’t see it as a progression. Just what my immune system served up.

Jump to this post

That's what I think too. The doctor in the video doubled down and said PMR can progress to GCA. I don't think that is true either.

Maybe just terminology but to say it "progresses" doesn't seem accurate. PMR and GCA are "associated" but so are reactive arthritis and uveitis. Uveitis sometimes happens with reactive arthritis but not always. Sometimes uveitis happens all by itself.

I struggled with "what if" scenarios like the following:
What if I didn't take enough Prednisone -- will I have a relapse?
or
What if I discontinued Prednisone -- would I have an adrenal crisis.

I'm not sure there are any clear cut answers.

"Just what my immune system serves up" is a good way to say it. My immune system gets overactive and needs to chill out.
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I haven't been diagnosed with gout but I have a high uric acid level. My rheumatologist said my uric acid level might be "contributing" to my problems. However, I can't say I have ever had a flare of gout.

I have multiple kidney stones and I passed one once. Passing the kidney stone was painful. The kidney stone was composed of 80% uric acid. I was treated with allopurinol, cholchicine along with potassium citrate to shrink my kidney stones. Everything was stopped but my kidney stones got bigger.

I'm just on potassium citrate to shrink my kidney stones again. Now my uric acid level is high again. Do you think I should go back on allopurinol?

REPLY
4 replies
tuckerp | @tuckerp | Sep 3 2:28pm
In reply to @dadcue "That's what I think too. The doctor in the video doubled down and said PMR can..." + (show)
@dadcue

That's what I think too. The doctor in the video doubled down and said PMR can progress to GCA. I don't think that is true either.

Maybe just terminology but to say it "progresses" doesn't seem accurate. PMR and GCA are "associated" but so are reactive arthritis and uveitis. Uveitis sometimes happens with reactive arthritis but not always. Sometimes uveitis happens all by itself.

I struggled with "what if" scenarios like the following:
What if I didn't take enough Prednisone -- will I have a relapse?
or
What if I discontinued Prednisone -- would I have an adrenal crisis.

I'm not sure there are any clear cut answers.

"Just what my immune system serves up" is a good way to say it. My immune system gets overactive and needs to chill out.
-------------------
I haven't been diagnosed with gout but I have a high uric acid level. My rheumatologist said my uric acid level might be "contributing" to my problems. However, I can't say I have ever had a flare of gout.

I have multiple kidney stones and I passed one once. Passing the kidney stone was painful. The kidney stone was composed of 80% uric acid. I was treated with allopurinol, cholchicine along with potassium citrate to shrink my kidney stones. Everything was stopped but my kidney stones got bigger.

I'm just on potassium citrate to shrink my kidney stones again. Now my uric acid level is high again. Do you think I should go back on allopurinol?

Jump to this post

It is amazing how different we all are. I suffer from kidney stones. Mine are 100% calcium oxalate.

REPLY
3 replies
pb50 | @pb50 | Sep 3 3:34pm
In reply to @dadcue "That's what I think too. The doctor in the video doubled down and said PMR can..." + (show)
@dadcue

That's what I think too. The doctor in the video doubled down and said PMR can progress to GCA. I don't think that is true either.

Maybe just terminology but to say it "progresses" doesn't seem accurate. PMR and GCA are "associated" but so are reactive arthritis and uveitis. Uveitis sometimes happens with reactive arthritis but not always. Sometimes uveitis happens all by itself.

I struggled with "what if" scenarios like the following:
What if I didn't take enough Prednisone -- will I have a relapse?
or
What if I discontinued Prednisone -- would I have an adrenal crisis.

I'm not sure there are any clear cut answers.

"Just what my immune system serves up" is a good way to say it. My immune system gets overactive and needs to chill out.
-------------------
I haven't been diagnosed with gout but I have a high uric acid level. My rheumatologist said my uric acid level might be "contributing" to my problems. However, I can't say I have ever had a flare of gout.

I have multiple kidney stones and I passed one once. Passing the kidney stone was painful. The kidney stone was composed of 80% uric acid. I was treated with allopurinol, cholchicine along with potassium citrate to shrink my kidney stones. Everything was stopped but my kidney stones got bigger.

I'm just on potassium citrate to shrink my kidney stones again. Now my uric acid level is high again. Do you think I should go back on allopurinol?

Jump to this post

Here’s how you can tell its Gout 🙂

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1 reply
DadCue | @dadcue | Sep 3 4:41pm
In reply to @pb50 "Here’s how you can tell its Gout :)" + (show)
@pb50

Here’s how you can tell its Gout 🙂

Jump to this post

My feet look similar. I also have hammer toes which is why it looks like I don't have any toenails.

This is the first time I have tried to include a photo. I hope it works.
REPLY
1 reply
DadCue | @dadcue | Sep 3 4:53pm
In reply to @tuckerp "It is amazing how different we all are. I suffer from kidney stones. Mine are 100%..." + (show)
@tuckerp

It is amazing how different we all are. I suffer from kidney stones. Mine are 100% calcium oxalate.

Jump to this post

As long as the stones stay in the kidneys and don't move they shouldn't cause a problem. At least that was what I was told. The stone that moved caused a big problem so I don't want another stone to start moving.

I think another stone did move but it only disrupted my urine stream and caused a momentary flash of blood. That stone didn't hurt if that was what it was.

REPLY
pb50 | @pb50 | Sep 3 5:38pm
In reply to @dadcue "My feet look similar. I also have hammer toes which is why it looks like I..." + (show)
@dadcue

My feet look similar. I also have hammer toes which is why it looks like I don't have any toenails.

This is the first time I have tried to include a photo. I hope it works.

Jump to this post

Yea all that red and purple just was there when I woke up. No injury- nothing

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1 reply
DadCue | @dadcue | Sep 3 6:20pm
In reply to @pb50 "Yea all that red and purple just was there when I woke up. No injury- nothing" + (show)
@pb50

Yea all that red and purple just was there when I woke up. No injury- nothing

Jump to this post

Your feet look painful!

My rheumatologist said I would know it if I had a gout flare when I was treated for the kidney stones. I have neuropathy in my feet so I'm not sure how much I would feel. My feet just have a dull ache. Mostly my feet tingle which drives me crazy sometimes when I'm trying to sleep.

REPLY
1 reply
tuckerp | @tuckerp | Sep 3 7:03pm
In reply to @dadcue "Your feet look painful! My rheumatologist said I would know it if I had a gout..." + (show)
@dadcue

Your feet look painful!

My rheumatologist said I would know it if I had a gout flare when I was treated for the kidney stones. I have neuropathy in my feet so I'm not sure how much I would feel. My feet just have a dull ache. Mostly my feet tingle which drives me crazy sometimes when I'm trying to sleep.

Jump to this post

ok you guys. No more feet pictures. Painful looking. I would be lucky if my stones stayed put. Mine seem to want to get large and stuck. Last one was 9mm. Blocked one kidney with kidney infection.

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